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Uchiha Shisui stepped into the arena with measured confidence, offering Hanekawa a respectful nod before his eyes blazed crimson. Two magatama spiraled into focus.
"Shisui already has two magatama?" Kakashi's surprise was genuine.
Asuma smiled knowingly. "He's the best of the younger generation Uchiha. I'd expect nothing less from my teammate."
Across the stands, Obito's expression darkened—not from jealousy of Shisui's advancement, but from the realization that his opponent had learned from their encounter. Shisui had activated his Sharingan before the match even started, a calculated defense against genjutsu.
Great. I'm officially a cautionary tale, Obito thought bitterly.
Fugaku watched with quiet approval. The boy's tactical mind was sharp. Cautious. The kind of thinking that built legends.
"Begin!" the proctor called.
Shisui's hands blurred through seals. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
The inferno erupted with terrifying speed—far more refined than Obito's attempt. Flames consumed the arena.
But Hanekawa was already moving.
The sound of wind splitting. Shisui's short sword flashed backward, meeting steel. The impact sent him sliding, and suddenly—two Hanekawas materialized on either side.
"Dance of the Three Suns and Moons!"
Shisui didn't hesitate. His body accelerated with the Body Flicker Technique, cheeks flushing as he leaned back.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Three blazing dragons erupted from his mouth, forcing Hanekawa to retreat. He dismissed his clones and formed new seals.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
The water dragon collided with the inferno. Steam exploded outward, swallowing the arena in fog.
"Hanekawa can use Water Style?" Asuma's eyes widened.
Kurenai's smile was radiant. "Of course. I taught him."
"But his natural attributes are Thunder and Fire," Asuma protested.
Kakashi's voice cut through. "He's mastered water chakra nature transformation. That's a jonin-level skill."
Rin beamed with admiration. Obito bit his tongue.
Hiruzen stroked his beard thoughtfully. Three chakra natures at this age? Truly exceptional. If I were younger...
The fog dissipated.
Shisui spotted movement and formed seals—then froze. Thunder crackled.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Arrow!"
White bolts pierced through him. He vanished in a puff of smoke—a shadow clone.
Shisui's real body appeared behind Hanekawa, sword raised high. "Uchiha Style: Blast Sword!"
The blade ignited, becoming a flaming crescent.
Hanekawa turned—revealing a clone. A detonating talisman hung from its chest.
The explosion erupted. When the smoke cleared, eight Shisui surrounded Hanekawa, each one solid, each one radiating chakra.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique?" Minato asked.
Kushina shook her head. "No. It's... between reality and illusion. With chakra, but no physical form."
"His real body keeps moving between the clones," Tsunade observed, raising an eyebrow.
Minato's eyes lit up. "Body Flicker Technique combined with Clone and Shadow Clone Techniques. Brilliant."
Kushina's worry deepened. "Can Hanekawa win?"
"Watch," Tsunade said simply, unbothered.
Fugaku stood abruptly, rare excitement crossing his face. This is the true genius of the Uchiha.
"Be careful, Hanekawa-senpai," Shisui called, rushing forward.
Eight swords flashed.
Hanekawa raised the Thunder-Fire Sword, his body becoming a blur of impossible angles. Countless sword shadows materialized—passing harmlessly through each Shisui.
Even with the Cartoonist entry's 30% vision boost, I can't pin him down.
He made a decision.
"Chidori Flow!"
Chakra exploded outward in all directions. Lightning consumed everything. The sound was deafening—a thousand birds screaming at once.
Shisui's body went rigid. The electricity had found him, numbed him, locked him in place.
Hanekawa's senses rode the lightning. He felt the solid impact—the real body.
"Konoha Style: Willow!"
The Thunder-Fire Sword stabbed forward, carrying the full weight of the jutsu. Shisui tried to dodge, but his body wouldn't respond. The lightning had paralyzed him. The genjutsu overlay had trapped him.
The blade stopped an inch from his forehead.
Wind scattered his hair.
Shisui lowered his sword and stepped back. "I concede. You've won, Hanekawa-senpai."
He'd given everything. Used every technique in his arsenal—except the Sharingan's genjutsu, which Hanekawa had similarly restrained. The match had been perfectly balanced until the final moment.
"Your Illusory Body Flicker Technique keeps improving," Hanekawa said, offering his hand. "Without Chidori Flow, I honestly don't know what I would've done."
Shisui accepted the gesture with a slight smile. He's being generous. I had no answer for his water techniques either.
Two notifications appeared before Hanekawa's eyes:
[D-Rank Talent Entry: Fire-Breathing Baby - Effect Upgraded]
[Fire Style talent increased by 100% (cumulative)]
Finally. His water and fire talents now both carried the 100% bonus. Three down, two to go. Earth, lightning, and wind still needed upgrades.
Kakashi and Asuma were next on his list.
"Let's go," Hanekawa said, retracting his sword.
Shisui nodded, and they walked from the arena together.
In the stands, Kushina beamed. "He won!"
Tsunade nodded with satisfaction. Good. He found the solution instantly. That's what matters.
Minato, however, looked thoughtful—almost amused. Interesting pattern. He defeated Obito with the Rasengan. Shisui with Chidori Flow. Both techniques created by others.
He glanced at Tsunade, then back at Hanekawa.
What's his own technique? What's he really capable of?
Fugaku shook his head slightly. "A pity. When Shisui awakens the three-magatama Sharingan, the outcome will be different."
But even as he said it, doubt flickered behind his eyes.
The Uchiha clan's greatest weapon was the Sharingan. Yet somehow, Hanekawa had found counters to everything Shisui threw at him.
What happens when the Sharingan itself isn't enough?